One of the most powerful ways a person can get involved in their community is service. However, because of its current reputation, service is in drastic need of a makeover in order to appeal to today’s youth. Old stereotypes tell us that service is mostly a one-time act of charitable volunteerism. Service is often seen as something a teacher or a judge forces youth to do without any opportunity for youth to shape or reflect on their experience. No wonder few teenagers are truly passionate about service!

This narrow definition can limit a young person’s understanding of how to personally connect with service. Charity is certainly an important form of service, but service encompasses more than charity alone and manifests in a huge variety of strategies with lots of room for creativity. Powered By Service offers youth the chance to use their creativity and talent to create change. Strategies can include grassroots organizing, social entrepreneurship, media with messages for social change, philanthropy, and local governance, as well as volunteerism. These strategies call on young peoples’ unique talents, passions and innovation to help them have power in their communities and flourish as leaders on the forefront of creating a better world. By highlighting the infinite possibilities for service more young people—especially young people of color—can lead lives Powered By Service.

The Powered By Service initiative will increase the diversity, relevance and accessibility of service for all young people. Announced at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative, Powered By Service will provide the messages, materials and opportunities for everyone, especially young people, to find their unique place in the national call to service.

Powered By Service components:

This initiative has the potential to drastically increase the number of young people engaged in service while also increasing the international visibility of service. Some anticipated outcomes include: